Transit level



F. MIHALYI TRANS IT LEVEL Nov. 11, 1930.

Filed Deo. 6, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l F. MIHALYI TRANSIT LEVEL Filed Dec,

Nov. l1, 1930.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 11, 1930 Unir-ao .STATES FRANK MIHALYI, orfs'r. LOUIS,l MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR To Inn DAVID .WHITE colit-V PATE-Nr goi-"Ficls:

rANY, 'OFM'ILWAUKEE WISCONSIN, A CORPORAIIONSOF WISCONSIN TRANSIT LEVEL Application led December 6, 1926. Serial No. 153,010. i

My invention relates to surveying instruments and consists in an improved transitlevel. j

The general object of my invention is to provide a single instrument which may be used as an ordinary level or may be used as an ordinary transit without separating any of the parts from each other.

There are a number :of more speciflcobd jects of. my invention, one of which is to provide an improved structure for mounting n a Spirit level and a telescope in assembled position with each other in such manner as Ato avoid mounting the spirit level on the telescope barrel and topermit adjustment of the telescope and spirit level independently of each other.

I `also desire to'provide for axial rotation of the telescope for centering adjustment of thetelescope cross wires without affecting the mounting of the spirit level associated with the telescope.

rAnother object isxto provide cooperating elevation arc elements `in an instrument 7 adapted to be used as a transit or a level.

Another object is to provide permanent bearings for transverse journals onthe telescope7 which bearings preferably are adjustablevertically relative to each other.

I also desire'to mount thetelescope inv its transverse bearings so that, if necessary,v it can vbe removed as a unit without removing any bearing caps or other parts likely to be reversed, or otherwise aect the accuracy of the bearings, in replacing` the telescope inits' transverse bearings.

An additional object of my invention is to provide in an instrument of the type described, a closed bearingfor lthe telescope barrel in order to facilitate adjustment of the telescope to'center the telescope cross wires.A

Another object is to avoid such 'weakening j of the shell of the spirit levelas is caused when the shell must be provided with openings on opposite sides iii-Order that the spirit level may be read in reversed positionasis required in convertible instruments previously used. In my instrument I 'avoid the necessity of reversing thespirit level at any time. 1 J Another important object of my invention is thefprovision of permanent bearings for `the spirit level and the telescopeirrespective of how frequently the use of the instrument varies rfrom use as a transit to use as a level. Y* Another object of my invention is to pro- `lvide a'coinpass which will rotate automatically' with the telescope andspirit vlevel as they are shifted from position in which the instrument is used as a level to* position in which it is'used as a transit. ,w v f These and various other detailed objects of my invention are-'attained in the structure illustrated iny the accompanying drawings and described below. In these drawings-- Figure l i'sja side elevation of my improved instrument when in position to rbe used as alevel. 1` f V Figure 2` is 'an elevation looking at the lower part of the instrument in a direction at right anglesito that illustrated in Figure l. the upper part of the instrument being swung horizontally ninety degrees from the position shown in Figure 1 and tilted vertically as indicated; the instrumentfin this view being adapted for use as a transit.

Figure 3 is a/vertical longitudinal sectionV vthrough the right hand end of the cross bar and parts carried thereby. f

Figures 6 and 7 are vertical sections taken on lines 6-6 and 7-7, respectively, of Figureft. y

Figure 8 is ahorizontal section taken o line 8 -8 of Figure 3.' f

.Figure 9 is a' 'detail section through parts shown' inv Figure 3 butftaken at rightl angles thereto.

Figure l0 isla Sectionthrough the trivet plate forming the mounting for the instrument.

The basefof my rin/stri'imenty is' preferably tates .with it `anllltlre useris able tolf.

formed hy a trivet plate 1, the sume being adapted yto he screwed onto the upper end ot a tripod in the usual manner, but being;` pro-- vided vfith three integral pointed lugs lu for mounting,- the instrument on a. table, Windowsill, or otherA elevated surta ceovhich elimina tes the necessity l'for using' the tripod. The base provides the usual socket hearing' Klier `t-lleh-:ad.3 @if the llStruine-ntand. l i

leveling the head 3. The usual vertical smart S (Fig. is journaled in the centeriothead toshaift'S. Standard? is'provided with in- Y tegrulhrackets 81inuwhich the telescope 49y is jour-nailed. y

A compass box y1.() is rotetablymounted 'in cross bart fan-d preferalv is tifed'teth )wer end of standard `Zt-Fig. by screws 27. Obviously, Whenever-the .telescope is rota V'l in a lhorlzontal planeythe compass hog; ro-

ep tue south point .of the compass beneath tre eyepiece, and computations to determine `the direction ofthe Ysighting ofthe transit `are re- L duced accordingly.

isemloly of standard 7, mounting the telescope,

und ythe compass. `rrespectilve screivsQ? 'adjustment of the graduatedV plate and ring of the compass andthe colliminationfline of the telescope are elfectedlhyuse oi? the qscrew '6G whichisthreadedinto one ott' several holes 67 inthe compass ringiGS und clampslthe saine Vu ggniinst the compass box-10.

Eaehoutericnd of cross har 6 threaded to receive a lo\ver.-hear1ng screwY 1-1, which,

`aff-ter adjustment, may 'he' loclredv in position by the set screw 12 (Fig. The'hea'd of screw 11 supports Van y extensible Imeinher forming one "ofthe elements which corre sponde to the vvyein general us Y. yl`hisi iniemcomprises-elcments 13 and vlllsjc'reiv-ed togetlier `:and adapted. to `he held in assembled position by theset screw 15.

Elementlrfincludes [a ringrgl adapted to receive the barrel of thelte'lescopeQ and fthe telescope is rotatably fittedi-n ring 16, a suitable lining-provided for thispu-rA pose. The telescope may be held against rober 151.

ziih'e .spiritlflevel -120 (of fthe instrument is ivitln to .rotate horizontally `with standard vri'edfthereley lare -detachabl-y hel-d over frees bar'by means o holding pin 'Q4 slidahle inl veling screw 11 but provided with a reer head 25 on its upper end and Witl a.

.thumbzserew on `its lower end, whereby it may be quickly screvved into element 18 or unscrewedrtherefro-m. s

Alt .uf'illhe Vseen that the ,arbore described structure provides a two-part support vfor Veach endiof. the telescope. which 4parts may he instantly-detached.from,each other to .permit the. telescope,l and theflevel associated there- 1 rirom the position shofwniirFigure 1 to 'the position shown linz-Figure 2, in which latter positionthe telescopeiandlevel may be tilted .verticallyso as to be used asa transit. IlVlie/:i it. is desired to use the instrument 7 as` a level the telescope is yturned to a'horizontal position and then rotatedhorizo-ntally tohring .elements 13 over their respective elements 11 after .Whichtheseparts maybe held together by pins 24.

V.it v.is .desirable that after the telescope is A.released .from cross` bar 6 `and swung to a transit-.functioning position, it canonly` he .returned to a level-,functioning position by moving its ends over the seme.respectiveheerings on..whic`h they previouslyrested. :This

objectf'is attained shy providing; the upper facelot crossbar f6 with set screws 31 (F'V llanelS) which project into an annular groove l'61 in the :douuiwardly v 'fecing shoulder provided near, the lowerend of standard 7. A horizontal set screw 62 `positioned radial-ly in .staiidand cooperates .with screws 3:1 to limit theyrotation ot .the telescope and level to .ninety,degrees.` Byiemovingg screw 'G2 the .parts mounted cnshatt muy he rotatcdvonc :hundred eighty degrees :is is .necessary when the instrument is tolle adjusted to correct any errors which may he caused by hlowser other forcestending to disturbthe `imminal adjustment.

Elieferuhig; non' yto the een! theQtelescope, in. brackets `8 *al :mounting ot l!" el) I dii et fatteiition to thelsleeve 32 `which surrounds the telescope'and is provided with integral trensvertse4 -trunnions n35 Whichere j-ournaled inisuitahle'bushings 36 seated vinbraclr'ets VS. Each .of these loraclets 8 isrigid with `the p Vt*stand*ard 7 c and vwith eachother, Athereby vtation-1n .ring v16 claimpqlS- Whichis tighti `'erred.byJnut '19 threaided onthe shanlrot niem- .s-c wlled convertible instruments of this type.

The bushing 36 in one of the bracle'ts 8 is pivotally mounted (Fig. 7) by two laterally disposed pointed set screws 37 and the bushing 36 in the other bracket 8 may be adjusted yvertically and transversely of itsaXis by flat end Aset screws 38 and may be secured in adjusted position by the pointed set screw 39.

Each trunnion detachably mounts apparatus for aiding accurate use of the instrument as a transit. 'On the right hand trunnion 35 I mount an arc member 40, the same being clamped to the trunnion -by ascrew 41.

A. cooperating arc element 42 (Fig. 2) is carried on the end of an arm 43 which is rigid with bracket 8. lt will be understood that the adjacent facesxof these are elements are provided vwithA suitable scale markings Yand cooperate inthe usual manner. An extension hub 44is securedto the opposite trunnion ,y by meansof a screw 45 and this hub 44 carries a ysplit clamp arm 46 rotatably retained on the hub by screwi 52. `The lower end of` arm 46 is bifurc'ated (Fig. l) to mount at one side a barrel 47 containing a spring-pressed -plunger48 which engages oueside of a lug 49 integral with bracket 8. The other side of the bifurcation mounts the micrometer adjusting screw 50, the end of which engages the opposite sideof lug 49. VBy means'of screw 5() accurate vertical rotation of the telescope is provided` `l/Vhen the telescope is finally placed at the desired vertical angle it ma be clam Jed b f ti 'htenin'o screw 5l which may be loosened when it is desired to adjust the vertical angle of the telescope.

The distance from the outer end of one instrument incluifles va nuniber of additional' elements which have been previously used in instruments of this type. For instance, the telescope eye-glass may be Ladjusted by rotation of screw 53 to focus'the cross wires and `the fecal length of the telescope may be adjusted by means of the screw 54. The cross wires may be shifted .vertically and tranivcrsely and rotated axially ofthe telescope by manipulation of screws 55 and by rotation. of the latter about the barrel of the telescope.

Micrometer adjustment of the table 5 is provided by the bar 56 which can be clamped tothe head 3 by means of screw 57 :and the outer end of this bar is bifurcated and carries a micrometer adjusting nut 58 and cooperatino' suine-blessed `lunger similar to the` t) Z3 J parts 47, 48, and 50 on bar 46 mounted on the telescoue trunnion. The ad ustine element 'on bar 56 engages a lug 34 on table 5 and enables the user to adjust the table about its axis.

The compass is provided with a needle locking screw 59 and the compass is also provided with the usual mechanism for adjust-ql;v

ing the points of the compass to accommodate the departure of the magnetic north from the true north. n

llVith my instrument set up as a level as illustrated in Figure l, the user may center 7;, the cross. wires and rbring the spirit level parallel Awith the collimatingline and may level the cross barand the' telescope bearings on the cross bar, by screws 4, and may level the telescope transversely ofthe collimating line- 50 with screws 38, and'may squarethe cross wires with screws 55. In other words, the instrument may be tested and adjusted iny every way necessary for its use asa level.

To convertthe instrument into a transitfa; the user vmerelyrotates the heads r26 of pins 24 a turn or two, permitting them to drop from the position illustrated until the shouldered upper end of each (Fig. y5) rests on screw 65, in which position the threaded up-i es) perl ends 25 of'pins 24 do not engage the lower element 13 of the telescope l`support, and the shaft 7 and brackets 8, ywith the telescope and spirit level and other parts mounted thereon, may be` roated asa unit in ahorizontal plane a5 to any desired angle,` and the telescope may be tilted in a vertical plane and the instrument used as a transit. l

When the instrument is again to be used asa level, the telescope is righted and moved" back to its original position, with its members 13 aligned with the cross armbearing. screws 1l, and pins 24 raised and screwed into members i3.

The telescope barrel is liever removed from its bearings during the conversionfof the 1nstrument, nor is the telescope disassembled from the spirit level. The adjustment ofthe cross wires is undisturbed throughout conversion of the instrument. There is no oppor-"5) 10 tunity for the telescopebarrel to be reversed in its lbearings or for the end bearing elementsV on the telescope to be reversed upon the cross arm.V

These and many other detailed advantages 1', 5 will be apparent to the experienced user of surveying instruments, and I contemplate the exclusive use of structure corresponding to that illustrated and included in the scope of my claims.

Obviously, in va complicated instrument 'of this typethere is room for infinite variations in thedetails and in the particular mechanisms for accomplishing similar ends, and l do not intend by the foregoing description 135 to limit'the statements of my invention to the particular structural features illustrated and described. Y y

I claim; Y

l. ln a surveying instrument, al cross bar,

lll)

porting elements on saidcross bar spaced lon.n

gitudinally ot said telescope, a standard roy the same, and a Compass box secured to said standard and rotatable therewith.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiix my signature this 8rd day of December, 1926. FRANK MII-IALYI.

said telescope, means for rotating saidv tele- Y scope horizontally on said cross bar independently of said'supports, and a compass box mounted on said table to rotate with said telescope, said box including a graduated rea-ding member adjustable angularly relative to said box.

17. In a surveying instrument, a telescope, a cross bar having spaced supports for oppositefends of said telescope when the latter is in a certain position relative to said cross bar, y

other mounting means permanently mounted on said cross bar and permanently assembled with said telescope, said means being rotatable in a horizontal plane from said position, and rele-asable means for holding said telescope in engagement with said supports.'

18. In a surveying instrument, a telescope,

a cross bar having spaced supports for oppoy vsite ends of said telescope when the latter is in a certain position relative to said cross bar, and 'other mounting means permanently mounted on said cross bar and permanently assembled with said telescope so that the latter may tilt in avertical plane, when in another position relative to said bar, said means being rotatable in a horizontal plane without detachment from said cross bar.

19. In a surveying instrument, a cross bar, a telescope, means supporting said telescope on said cross bar so that said telescope may swing'in a horizontal plane, or in a vertical plane, or may rotate on its optical axis, a level, and elements for mounting said level so that it swings with said telescope horizontally and vertically but does not rotate with said telescope when the latter is rotated on its axis.

20. In a combined level and transit, a telescope, means for positioning said telescope with its axis disposed horizontally, a member rotatable relative to said means, in a horizontal plane, trunnions on said telescope whereby it may be tilted in a vertical plane, and

elements permanently and ustably mounting said trunnions in saidmember.

21. In a surveying instrument, a cross bar,

`telescope supports spaced longitudinally thereof, a horizontally rotatable standard between said supports, a telescope mounted on said standard so as to tilt in a vertical plane and adapted to be engaged by said support so as to be held in a horizontal plane when over 

